Autonomous Cars: An Uber, in autonomous mode (with an operator at the wheel), struck and killed a pedestrian pushing a bike in Tempe AZ. While raising questions about the rush to test on public roads, there is emerging attention to the underlying street design and spate of pedestrian deaths in Arizona. Autonomous technology will proceed, though with more caution.

Practice

Scenario Planning

Incorporating and managing uncertainty is now required of every planning exercise. From technology to automated vehicles to climate change, planners need to anticipate change. A new era of scenario planning is helping communities explore change, identify likely scenarios and focus on preferred futures. Even more important, cities and towns can use scenario planning to chart out likely steps as events evolve. These steps offer intervention points.

Scenario planning also has multiple uses. In addition to forecasting and planning, these exercises can be used for training, strategic planning and public engagement. For more information, visit the Scenario Planning Consortium.

Research

Boston's Metropolitan Area Planning Council new research finds ride-hailing services are exacerbating rush-hour traffic jams in the city. MAPC surveyed 944 ride-hailing passengers, using travel questionnaires gathered on tablets during ride-hailing trips. Forty-two percent said they would have taken transit if the ride-hailing service were not available and another12 percent substitued a walk or bike trip. MAPC conducted the survey to fill information and data gaps, often not shared by ridehailing companies.

New Reports

The American Planning Association has a new podcast series and report on planning for automated vehicles. Though focused on driverless technology, the report pulls together all aspects of planning and multi-modal transportation (March 2018).